Shanghai Theatre Academy visited VGIK

During its history of international relations VGIK maintained close links with different Chinese art schools and universities.

In this respect the representative of Shanghai Theatre Academy was welcomed at VGIK October, 10. The delegation was headed by famous Chinese theatre and film director, President of College of Film&TV, Shanghai Theatre Academy, Ph. D., Professor Sherwood Hu.

has received Masters of Arts degree from New York State University and earned a Ph.D. in directing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

His stage production «The Legend of Prince Lanling» received an Honorable Mention from the Kennedy Arts Center and later was adapted into his first feature film. He was also invited by Shanghai TV channel hosting the only Film Critique program “Hu on Silver Screen” since 2009.

The Chinese delegation also included:

- Professor Hou Yong, Head of the Film Department, College of Film & TV, Shanghai Theatre Academy;

- Doc.Sha Yang, Deputy Director of the Film Department, College of Film & TV, Shanghai Theatre Academy;

VGIK Rector Vladimir Malyshev, First Vice-Rector Irina Zernova, Dean of the Acting Department Elena Magar, Dean of the Animation and Multimedia Department Elena Yaremenko, Head of the International Affairs Department Tatiana Tursunova welcomed the Chinese delegation in the negotiation hall.

At the beginning of the meeting Dean of the Animation and Multimedia Department Elena Yaremenko presented the animated films that had been shot in the frame of the international project with Beijing Film Academy - Modern Creative Media College, Qingdao.

President of College of Film &TV of Shanghai Theatre Academy, Professor Sherwood Hu expressed his sincere gratitude to VGIK Rector Mr. Malyshev for his invitation to come to Moscow and visit our University.

Mr. Hu was speaking about the structure of Shanghai Theatre Academy established in 1945, its professors and new programs. He mentioned that methods of teaching acting are based on Stanislavsky system and influenced by the Russian theatre history.

Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA)is the first national comprehensive art institution in China co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of China and Shanghai Municipal Government.The Academy offers multiple art disciplines and has the longest training history. STA currently has 2215 full-time students studying in 15 majors of 12 colleges/departments, including 204 master students and 88 doctoral candidates. The motto of STA is «supreme perfection and beauty». It enjoys the reputation of «cradle of stars» and «home of performing artists».

College of Film & TV started in 1958 as the «Film Workshop». Nowadays the College focuses on training feature, documentary and animated films directors, film editors, sound designers, film and TV actors, cinematographers.

The Chinese distinguished guests had an opportunity to attend the class of Honoured Artist of Russia, Professor A. Fedorov (A. Mikhaylov workshop)and assess professional skills of his students.

Professor Hu expressed the hope that the creative cooperation between our schools will be established in different forms such as master-classes of the Russian professors in STA, academic and student exchange programs in the frame of common education programs. Moreover, Acting Department professors will be able to build professional connections with their Chinese colleagues.

VGIK Rector Vladimir Malyshev wished to strengthen cooperation between our film schools and invited Chinese students to take part in theatre section of VGIK International Film Festival and annual VGIK International Summer School.

During the meeting the delegates exchanged the souvenirs and schools’ memorabilia.

After the meeting Head of the International Affairs Department Tatiana Tursunovapresented the long VGIK history which will be celebrating 100th anniversary.

She introduced to guests VGIK film production studio, its stages, TV complex and Audio/Video Editing Station. The Chinese delegation appreciated the high quality of studio equipment for film production. Furthermore, the guests visited Russian Film History research departmentwhere they familiarized themselves with the archival materials. One delegate would like to be able to come back to study Soviet Film history for his thesis work. Finally, the guestsvisited the art students’ exposition of pictures and costumes and were impressed by their professional skills.

The Chinese delegation was very grateful to VGIK administration for the warm welcome and expressed their hopefor the development of the future projects between VGIK and Shanghai Theatre Academy.